Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Ethical Dilemmas II

Ethical Dilemmas II

Resolving an ethical dilemma in healthcare involves a systematic approach that considers every aspect of the issue, respecting both the patient's needs and values and the healthcare professional's ethical obligations. Here are potential steps to resolve an ethical dilemma:

Heuristics

Heuristics

Heuristics are problem-solving strategies that use mental shortcuts to simplify decision-making. Unlike algorithms, which must be followed precisely to achieve a correct result, heuristics offer a general problem-solving framework. They save time and energy but can sometimes lead to less rational decisions.
People often rely on heuristics when faced with an overload of information, limited time, low importance of the decision, limited information, or when a heuristic readily comes to mind. For...

Ethics and Bioethics

Ethics and Bioethics

Ethics is a philosophical study of moral actions. Ethics attempts to determine what is valuable for individuals and society. It examines the rational justification of moral judgments and analyzes what is morally just, fair, and right. Bioethics is a sub-discipline of applied ethics that analyzes the philosophical, social, and legal issues in life sciences and medicine. Ethical theories serve as a foundation for decision-making and represent the viewpoints from which people seek direction. They...

Ethical Issues

Ethical Issues

Nurses are essential in patient care, upholding the ethical principles of their profession and effectively navigating ethical dilemmas. Neglecting ethical issues can lead to inadequate patient care, compromised therapeutic relationships, and moral distress among healthcare workers.
Ethical Concerns in Healthcare:

Social Traps

Social traps are negative situations where people get caught in a direction or relationship that later proves to be unpleasant, with no easy way to back out of or avoid. The concept was orignally introduced by John Platt who applied psychology to Garrett Hardin's "Tragedy of the Commons", where in New England herd owners could let their cattle graze in the common ground. This situation seems like a good idea, but an individual could have an advantage. If they owned...

Ethics in Research

Ethics in Research

Today, scientists agree that good research is ethical in nature and is guided by a basic respect for human dignity and safety. However, this has not always been the case. Modern researchers must demonstrate that the research they perform is ethically sound.

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Living on the Edge: Paradoxical Experiences With Ethics <i>[Reprinted with Permission]</i>.

Nursing science quarterly·2025

Same author

Hermeneutics: An Ethical Journey (Reprinted With Permission).

Nursing science quarterly·2025

Same author

The Future of Nurse Scholarship: The Ethical Challenges <i>(Reprinted with permission)</i>.

Nursing science quarterly·2025

Same author

Living on the Edge: Paradoxical Experiences with Ethics (Reprinted with permission).

Nursing science quarterly·2024

Same author

Hermeneutics: An Ethical Journey.

Nursing science quarterly·2024

Same author

Influences of the Arts and Nurse Ethics.

Nursing science quarterly·2023

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 24, 2025

Working with Human Tissues for Translational Cancer Research

Working with Human Tissues for Translational Cancer Research

Published on: November 26, 2015

Taking Shortcuts and Workarounds: Is it Ethical?

Constance L Milton¹

¹Professor Emeritus, School of Nursing, Azusa Pacific University, Azusa, CA, USA.

Nursing Science Quarterly

|June 5, 2024

Summary

Nurses often use shortcuts instead of standardized procedures. This article explores the ethical considerations of these workarounds in nursing practice and their impact on patient care.

Area of Science:

Nursing Ethics
Healthcare Policy
Professional Practice

Background:

Healthcare institutions rely on standardized policies for nurses.
Nurses frequently employ workarounds or shortcuts in daily practice.
This deviation raises ethical questions regarding nursing standards.

Purpose of the Study:

To initiate an ethical discussion on nursing shortcuts.
To analyze conflicting values in professional nursing.
To examine implications for nurses and patients.

Main Methods:

Ethical analysis of nursing practices.
Discussion of value conflicts in healthcare.
Review of implications for service providers and recipients.

Keywords:

ethics humanbecoming shortcuts workaround

More Related Videos

Errors as a Means of Reducing Impulsive Food Choice

Errors as a Means of Reducing Impulsive Food Choice

Published on: June 5, 2016

The Joint Effect of Social Comparison and Social Distance on Evaluation of Intertemporal Choice Outcomes in Event-related Potential Studies

The Joint Effect of Social Comparison and Social Distance on Evaluation of Intertemporal Choice Outcomes in Event-related Potential Studies

Published on: August 25, 2023

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 24, 2025

Working with Human Tissues for Translational Cancer Research

Working with Human Tissues for Translational Cancer Research

Published on: November 26, 2015

Errors as a Means of Reducing Impulsive Food Choice

Errors as a Means of Reducing Impulsive Food Choice

Published on: June 5, 2016

The Joint Effect of Social Comparison and Social Distance on Evaluation of Intertemporal Choice Outcomes in Event-related Potential Studies

The Joint Effect of Social Comparison and Social Distance on Evaluation of Intertemporal Choice Outcomes in Event-related Potential Studies

Published on: August 25, 2023

Main Results:

Standardized nursing practices are often bypassed.
Ethical dilemmas arise from nursing shortcuts.
Conflicting values impact nursing and patient care.

Conclusions:

The ethicality of nursing shortcuts requires careful consideration.
Deviations from policy present ethical challenges.
Further discussion is needed on implications for nursing and patient outcomes.